What is User Story Mapping?
User Story mapping tool is used to visually plot a user’s activities and tasks when interacting with existing product or potential new product . Widely embraced by product managers, this method becomes instrumental in effectively prioritising stories across various release cycles. Moreover, it is a valuable discovery tool, pinpointing stories requiring customer validation and identifying potential gaps in the customer experience.
Practical example
To illustrate the concept of user story mapping, let’s consider a practical scenario involving a product designed to assist parents in discovering and booking sports activities for their children within their local vicinity.
User story mapping exercise
Step 1 : User persona
Prior to the user story mapping session, it is important that product manager has worked with product designer and other stakeholders to identify and build a user persona for their product. For the sake of our example case, we will use the following example of a parent using the product to find sports activities for their school-going kids in their local area:
User Persona Example : Active Parent Alex
Alex is a 38 year old parent who lives in the suburbs with their two school-age children, aged 8 and 10. Alex works as a marketing manager and values a healthy lifestyle. Being an active parent, Alex is dedicated to ensuring their children are engaged in sports and physical activities. Alex has limited time due to work and family commitments and is having difficulty in finding relevant information about local sports activities.
Step 2 : Identify stakeholders
To identify stakeholders for a user story mapping session, first list the people who will use, create, or be affected by the product. Include direct contributors like designers and users’ representatives, as well as those indirectly impacted like customer support and management. Prioritise their involvement based on influence, impact, and expertise, and communicate their roles to ensure a comprehensive session. Be ready to adapt the list as the project progresses.
Step 3 : User story mapping workshop
After having completed the above two steps, arrange a workshop of 1.5 – 2.0 hours with the stakeholders.
Carry out these activities during the workshop
- Define the scope of the workshop and the specific product or feature you’ll be mapping. Make sure everyone understands the purpose and goals of the workshop.
- The next major step of the workshop is to identify main user activities related to the product. Let all participants write each activity on a sticky note and put it on a board in chronological order. After every participants has provided its input, group the main activities and give them names. Make sure that activities are arranged on a whiteboard or digital workspace in the order a customer will actually perform them. This forms the backbone of your user story map.
- Work with all participant to write the tasks done by customers under each activity. Group the tasks that are similar. These tasks will convert to users stories
- Work with stakeholders and vote the most important tasks or user stories required for different releases of the product.
- Work with stakeholders to identify tasks that are just assumptions and would need validation with customer during customer interviews.
The user story mapping process is an excellent framework that connects user needs with product development. By prioritising stories and fostering discovery, this technique empowers product managers, designers, and stakeholders to create products that resonate deeply with users. As we’ve explored through the example of parent Alex, the synergy between user personas and stakeholder engagement amplifies the importance of user story mapping. Ultimately, this approach enables teams to build user-centered narratives, delivering not just features, but meaningful experiences that fulfil real-world requirements.
